NPR (Nina Totenberg): High Court Weighs Legality Of Memorial Cross

A white cross erected on a rock outcropping on federal land in California's Mojave Desert is at the heart of a Supreme Court case about the government's display of religious symbols.

Critics say the cross violates the Constitution's ban on government establishment of religion. The case will be argued Wednesday.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars' Death Valley post first built the cross at Sunrise Rock in 1934 to honor Americans who died in combat in World War I. The most recent version of the cross was erected 11 years ago by a man named Henry Sandoz.

Neither the VFW nor Sandoz ever owned the land where the cross is located — nor did they have permission to build on the land.

But in 1999, a Buddhist asked the National Park Service for permission to erect a Buddhist shrine on federal land near the cross. The agency refused, setting in motion a series of events in the courts and Congress, culminating in Wednesday's Supreme Court hearing.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113532854

to be free from religious advertisements on public land...

I have no problem with people showing crosses anywhere they care to, as long as it is on their own or some private property.

I don't care what church you belong to or which belief system you subscribe to, but you also have to realize that I have a freedom to believe whatever I wish to believe.

We already heavily subsidize religion through the charitable contribution deduction on Schedule A of the 1040 form. People bequeath huge tax free amounts to the church of their choice. I have problems with that but I understand the pull religion has over people.

Anyway, get the cross off public land.